It all started with a (failed) PhD candidate using - using - her "friends" for her
research/thesis. Last I heard (from a sort of credible source - religious fruitcake aside)
she had "changed her name" and "moved back to the States".

Oh right. And the "online counselling site". I asked one of their self-appointed 'grand
wizards' about the problem of 'online counsellors' posing as people with terminal
illnesses:

[me] Apparently some or many people who chat there are not just random civilians,
rather they are 'online counselling' professionals testing their theories and 'remedies'
on the general and unsuspecting public...

[wiz] I think those are students who are trying to figure out what they are doing.
Occasional professional who is mis-stepping.

[me] Can't agree that it's 'just kids' - or that it's trivial.

No idea if 'online counselling' is an effective end run around medical regulations, etc.
They sure nag for money/donations though.